Bear with me...

I have a very old S&W K frame revolver, from the time before they heat treated the cylinders.

If I purchased a new(er) cylinder that had been heat treated, what models would fit a S&W 1905?

I am okay with having to work to fit it.

I want one to:
A. Not be worried about pressures of the ammunition
B. Moon clip it, without messing with a very old, possibly collectible (later) handgun.

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rcmodel

January 2, 2013, 07:55 PM

From the time before S&W heat treated cylinders, they didn't heat treat frames either.

I think you are barking up the wrong tree.

rc

Mauser lover

January 2, 2013, 10:51 PM

Would it make it ANY better? I am not wanting to make it a .357 mag, or even .38+P, just a little stronger (and non-collectible for the parts altered for moon clip).

rcmodel

January 2, 2013, 11:28 PM

Lets just say you would be spending money to make a good old gun a worse old gun.

Your 1905 S&W lacks many modern amenities.
Including heat treating, the lack of a positive mechanical drop safety, and parts availability.

It is what it is, and should stay that way.

If you want a safe reliable moon-clipped +P revolver?
My best advice would be to sell what you got for what you can get.
And buy what you want with what you got.

You will be money ahead, and way safer in the long run.

rc

Mauser lover

January 3, 2013, 12:38 PM

I don't know what you mean by no "positive mechanical drop safety". The hammer/firing pin will not fall or be pushed into contact with the cartridge without the trigger pulled.

Is this not a 1905? Now i'm confused...

rcmodel

January 3, 2013, 12:52 PM

You said in the first post:
what models would fit a S&W 1905?So I assumed it was a S&W M&P Model 1905.
Yes, your gun has a spring-loaded hammer drop safety.
And a rebound slide that also blocks the hammer.

But in WWII, a sailer dropped his 1940'ish S&W Victory Model with the same safety & rebound slide as your gun on the deck of his ship.
And it fired, killing him.

That lead to all later S&W's from then on having a positive mechanical hammer block safety that didn't depend on a tiny spring to safely block the hammer.

rc

Old Fuff

January 3, 2013, 01:31 PM

The ratchet pattern on the extractor star is not the same as is used today, so it would be both difficult and probably expensive to find a heat treated cylinder that would meet your requirements. To be more specific I need to know the serial number on your revolver. Use xx for the last numbers.

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